Detecting indicator for air-method cleaning systems



Aug- 25, 1942. I D. B. REPLOGLE DETECTING INDICATOR FOR AIR-METHODCLEANING SYSTEMS vFiled Sept. 22. 1941 gwwe/Mxw D. B REPLOGLE,

Patented Aug. 25, 1942 UN T D v5'lF-lTI'ES PAT;

N ICE DETECTING INDICATOR EOE AIR-METHOD CLEAN N S STEM DanielBenspnlteplogle, Berkeley, Qalih, assignor to The Ohio'Gitizens TrustCompany Toledo,

Ohio; a corporation of Ohio, a's'trustee This invention relates to thesubject of airmethod cleaning systems in which an air stream is used forits erosive action in removing dust, litter and the like from carpets,rugs, floors or articles of clothing, including shoes, etc.

An important object of the invention is to make visible'to the operatorthe results being obtained by the sweeping operation and to indicate tohim whether or not dust is being drawn into the cleaner and if so toshow the character of the dust. My improvement is also intended toretrieve articles of value such as jewelry or buttons from places beingcleaned where such articles may have been accidentally drawn into theair stream.

A further object of the invention is to render such indicating devicesmore effective by being made of transparent, plastic material so as tokeep them light and convenient for use in the hand or about the work ofsuction or air-method cleaners whether of the stationary,semi-stationary or portable types. Heretofore such indicators have beentoo heavy and have depended upon reversing the air stream so as to clearthe indicator from accumulated dust and litter.

It is well known that transparency alone does not make dust visible inpassing through a transparent pipe, but an eddy current or slowing ofthe flow must be elfected in some way in order to make the content ofdust and litter visible during the cleaning operation. Any enlargementor chamber in the air passage will have the tendency to either slow thestream or cause eddies therein or both. The present arrangement isdesigned to cause a rapid eddy of part of the stream and a slowing ofthat part of the stream in passing through a screen forming part of thedevice.

One of the objects of the present invention is accordingly to efiect asuperior showing of the dust by making the whole of the device as nearlyas possible oftransparent material and to cause a clearing of theindicator without reversing the whirl of the incoming dust and with aslittle interference as possible with the, efiiciency of the stream, andalso to preventthe vane from being accidentally placed in such positionas to interfere with operation of the air stream.

These and other objects are attained by the construction, arrangementand operation of the parts as herein described and illustrated in theaccompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the article complete and ready to beincorporated into the suction pipe line of a cleaning system.

Fig. 2 is a top View taken on Fig. 1 with the assembling pipeconnections removed from the transparent element of the device.

Fi s- 3 and 3c show respectively a male and female nipple for pipeconnection, one end of each being adapted to slide over and secure as anassembling ring the parts of the body shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. l is a view of the one-half of the article shown in Fig. 2 and isdesigned to show the lo:- cation of the median vane or diaphragm whichis ada e o turn abo t its vertic axis b tween the two halves of theassembled shell or outside globular part of the device.

Figs. 5a, 5b and [5c are respectively an edge Vi w of the diaphra mshgwn i a c oss sectional View of the shaft and screen; and crosssections cf the laminations making up this ring or vane, one of the saidlaminations being a rubber, felt or leather ring having its edges tocoincide with the inner globular surface of the chamber and beingclamped between transparent assembling rings which also are designed tohold in place the central screen of the diaphragm or vane a side view ofwhich is shown in Fig. l in what may be called a neutral position whenth device is in operation.

Fig. 6 represents one of two exactly alike shells or halves of theglobular construction shown in the other figures, Figs. 1, 2 and 4.

Fig. 7 is suggestive of a method of using the device where a specialnozzle suitable for cleaning clothing and the like is applied to thenipple instead of a suction extension pipe as shown in Fi 8.

Fig. 8 suggests the total assembly of a portable sweeper with pipeattachment where the suction extension pipe may be used attached to andparallel to the'body of the machine or in a position dissociated fromthe machine except for its connection through the hose pipe.

Referring to Fig. 8, A designates a transparent indicator embodying myinvention. B denotes a hollow wand constituting the suction pipe of acleaning apparatus, to the lower end of which is attached a suitablefloor. tool or other suction nozzle, C. The outlet from the indicator isconnected through flexible tubing or the like D with suitable suctionproducing and filtering means E.

A similar arrangement is indicated in Fig. 7 wherein the indicator A isconnected through a short pipe B to a suitable cleaning tool C" whilethe outlet to the indicator is connected through a flexible tubing D toa suitable source of suction not shown. The tool shown in Fig. 7 isadapted to be held in the hand of the operator.

The indicator A may be composed of any light transparent material as forexample Celluloid or one of the newer transparent plastics such as vinylresin or the like. The indicator is preferably composed of two identicalshells or halves Ill-l one of which is indicated in Fig. 6. The shellsID are of semi-spherical construction and are adapted to be joined in acentral vertical plane as illustrated in Fig. 2. When assembled the mainportion of the indicator is spherical or globular in form and includes amain chamber ll having inlet and outlet portions l2 and I3 respectively,also divided in half as indicated in Fig. 2. When the parts areassembled the two nipples l4 and I 5 shown in Figs. 3 and 3arespectively are attached to the inlet and outlet portions l2 and [3respectively and thus serve to hold the indicator in assembled position.The nipples l4 and I5 are preferably of light transparent materialsimilar to'the indicator itself. When assembled these nipples hold thetwo halves of the indicator snugly together and insure a fluid tightfit. The nipples l4 and I5 are adapted to be connected at their otherends to pipes B and D respectively of Fig. 8 or B' and D of Fig. 7.

Within the globular chamber H is mounted a disc shaped laminateddiaphragm or vane generally designated by the reference character F.Stops l6 and I1 within the globular chamber ll limit the movement of thediaphragm, and prevent the vane from being placed in such position as tointerfere with the operation of the air stream. The diaphragm exactlyfits within the spherical walls of the chamber A and is adapted to berotated about the central vertical axis by means of knobs or handles l8and I9 as best indicated in Fig. 4. These knobs are located, one aboveand the other below the axis of the diaphragm and may be formed ofrubber, preferably soft rubber with knurled edges, the rubber lightlyimpinging on the shell at opposite openings therein. These knobs act asseals to prevent any leakage of air through the openings 25 and 26 inthe wall of the indicator. The knobs are connected to the diaphragmthrough suitable stems 21 and 28.

As shown the diaphragm F is made up of a pair of transparent rings 20,gripping between them a ring 2| of somewhat greater diameter than therings -20. The ring 2l serves as a seal and is adapted to engage thewall of the globular chamber. This ring may be made of rubber, felt,leather or other suitable material adapted to provide a fluid tightseal. The transparent rings 20 are also adapted to grip between them acentral screen 22. The various laminations of which the diaphragm iscomposed may be secured together by the use of suitable adhesive or byfusing together the various laminations or by the use of other suitablefastening means.

In operation the diaphragm F may be located in either of the two dottedpositions indicated in Fig. 2 or the diaphragm may be moved to a neutralposition such as is indicated in Fig. 4 wherein the diaphragm is in thevertical plane which joins the two halves of the indicator.

When the diaphragm is located in one of the diagonal positions shown inFig. 2, dust laden air entering from suction pipe B or B will first bedeflected outward toward the spherical wall of the indicator by reasonof the rings 20 so that the amount of dust carried by the air will bereadily apparent to the operator. Ultimately the air and the finerparticles of dust will pass through the central screen 22 and outthrough pipe D or D to a suitable filtering means. Any larger particles,including articles of value such as jewelry, coins, buttons or the likewill be screened out before entering the outlet pipe. Such articles canbe readily removed from the spherical chamber by simply uncoupling thedevice from the pipe line and emptying through the nipple.

It will be noted that nearly all the parts of the device are in pairs,that is to say, there are two hemispherical shells or parts which whenput together face to face constitute the whirling chamber. There arealso two knobs for turning the diaphragm which knobs may be exactlyalike, one located above and the other below the diaphragm; also thediscs 20-20 may be identical. This arrangement lends simplicity to thedevice and decreases manufacturing costs.

The invention has been described in detail for the purpose ofillustration but it will be obvious that many modifications andvariations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

What I claim is:

1. A dust indicator for a suction cleaning system, comprising aspherical chamber located in the system, having transparent outer walland a circular diaphragm mounted for rotation about an axis within thechamber, said diaphragm including an outer transparent ring portionadapted to deflect dust against the spherical wall of the chamber andhaving a central opening to permit air and dust to pass to an outletpassage.

2. A dust indicator as set forth in claim 1 wherein the sphericalchamber wall is centrally divided and is provided with inlet and outletportions, and sleeves fitting said inlet and outlet portions and servingto hold the indicator in assembled position.

3. A dust indicator as set forth in claim 1 wherein limiting stops forthe diaphragm are provided within the chamber wall.

4. A dust indicator as set forth in claim 1 wherein a screen is providedfor said ring opening.

5. A dust indicator as set forth in claim 1 wherein the diaphragm ismounted, an axis passing through the wall of said chamber and knobs areprovided at the ends of said axis serving the dual purpose of sealingthe openings in said cylindrical wall and providing means for rotatingthe diaphragm about its axis.

6. A dust indicator as set forth in claim 1 wherein the diaphragm isprovided with a sealing ring engaging the wall of the chamber.

7. A dust indicator as set forth in claim 1 wherein the diaphragmincludes a pair of transparent outer rings with a screen between theextending across said opening.

DANIEL BENSON REPLOGLE.

